Blaze may have been part of a suicide plan

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS  A fatal two-alarm house fire here Wednesday afternoon that investigators say was intentionally set may have been part of a suicide plan.

The body of a man was found in the kitchen of the home near the back door.

"All of the evidence leads us to believe this death was a suicide," said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Paul Jaroscak.

The fire inside the house, 2938 E. Bridgewater Drive (7550 South), about 3:30 p.m., spread very fast, according to firefighters. Investigators believed the blaze, which caused about $250,000 damage, was started in the kitchen.

Further investigation, however, showed the fire may have actually been part of a plan by the man to take his own life, Jaroscak said. Whether the fire killed the man or if he died from another cause was still being investigated Thursday.

Jaroscak said detectives hoped an autopsy and toxicology tests would let them know how the man died.